Taking action to make your home efficient is a good investment in both time and money. But where should you start? Before you begin any home efficiency projects, schedule a professional energy audit to tell you what improvements will have the most impact on your home’s efficiency.

How Do Energy Audits Work?

Energy audits are performed by a trained professional who has the expertise and equipment to conduct it properly. The auditor will examine your property, check your energy bills and investigate the home top to bottom. To get accurate numbers on how efficient your home is, the auditor will perform a few specialized tests.

• With a blower door test, the auditor installs a special door into one of your exterior doorways. This equipment has a high-powered blower fan installed within it. When the auditor turns the fan on, it begins blowing air from inside the house to the outside. This lowers the pressure inside the home. The lower pressure level will start drawing in air from the outside, through leaks around doors, windows and other openings. This allows the auditor to identify where those leaks are.
• With the thermographic scan, the auditor will use a special infrared camera to examine both the inside and outside of your home. The camera shows where the cold spots are within your home. It can show where cold is penetrating or where the home is losing heat. This helps identify areas that need insulation, as well as leak locations.

What Do You Get From an Energy Audit?

Once the auditor has completed the testing and information gathering, you’ll receive a detailed report of the results that lists where your home’s efficiency can be approved. You will find that many items are low-cost and oftentimes something you can do on your own. Others may need the attention of an HVAC professional, but they’re worth it since they will lead to significant energy savings.

For more information about how a professional energy audit can benefit your home specifically, or for other home comfort issues, contact the experts at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating.